Controlling- means foe centrifugal oil-burners



S. ELLIOTT.

CONTROLLlNG MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL OIL Bl JRNERS. APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1918.

1,371,231 Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

2 S'HEETSSHEET 1.

8. ELLIOTT.

ONTROLLING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL 0I|. BURN E RS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, I918- Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL OIL-BURNERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application filed April 27, 1918. Serial No. 231,287.

To all w 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, STERLING ELLIOTT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inControlling Means for Centrifugal Oil-Burners, of whlch the following isa specification.

This invention relates to improvements in controlling-means foroil-burners.

In such types, there is provided a casing, in general, in the form of afurnace body, wherein there is mounted a distributer, through which thefuel, from any suitable source of supply, is delivered in the form ofspray, jets or streams over a comparatively large area on a burnerplate, through the centrifugal force of same incident to the rotation ofthe distributer by a motor. The liquid fuel within the furnace or caslng1s ignited by apilot-light arranged for continuous burning to guardagalnst the probability of extinguishment of the flame n the furnacethroughthe temporary cessation of the flow of fuel from any cause.

As ordinarily arranged, the motor for the operation of the distributeris of the electric type for convenient power transmission and control,and it is with particular regard to such a type of motor operator, thatthe present invention is concerned. In the use of furnaces of this type,it sometimes happens stances, unless the motor is controlled, the

distributer continues in operation with a consequent flooding of the oilor other fuel with entailed loss.

' One of the objects of the invention, there fore, is to provide acooperating structure, preferably mechanical, that, if, for any reason,the oil, when delivered from the distributer, is unconsumed, and suchunconsumed fuel, upon suitable accumulation thereof, will automaticallyoperate to break the circuit of the motor with the effect to stop thedistributer and'prevent further delivery of oil to the furnace.

Furthermore, in direct connection w1th the pilot-light for suchfurnaces, and the liability of same to become extinguished, a furtherobject of the invention consists in arranging the pilot-light, so thatits ignition points are-wholly below the bottom plate, but are yetarranged with a view to directing flame from such burning of the fuel inaccordance with desired heat conditions, the thermostat proper being, ofcourse, adjustable to vary the degree of heat at which it willautomatically open or close the motor circuit. As the thermostaticcontrol would close the motor circuit to start the motor feeding deviceat a certain minimum degree of heat, if, at such time, the pilot-lightis out, a starting of the feeding device would result in accumulatingoil in the furnace which would reach and operate the mechanical controlfor the motor circuit. The mechanical control will thus act to guardagainst operation of the feeding device to waste the oil under thestarting ofthe thermostatic control, unless proper conditions exist forthe burning of the oil.

The present invention, therefore, is di rected to independent controlmeans for the actuating motor ofthe furnace fuel-distributer, one ofsuch control means being mechanical, and governed by the weight of theliquid fuel in the event such fuel in predetermined quantity shouldreach the control for any reason, as, by the failure of the pilot-light,and a second automatic thermostatically-governed control in which themotor circuit is opened or closed in accordance with predetermined heatconditions at a point or points beyond the furnace.

A fuel regulating valve is customarily connected in the fuel linebetween the fuel pump and the fuel distributer to govern the amount offuel fed to the furnace and consequently the degree of heat of thefurnace. In the normal operation of the furnace the fuel valve isadjusted to admit the passage of the required and relatively smallamountof fuel. hen however, it is desired to set the furnace in operation,theadjustment of the fuel valve for the operative condition of the furnaceis such as to admit insuflicient oil to readily start combustion, it isconsequently necessary to open the fuel valve beyond its normalcondition, to admit sufli'cient additional fuel to the furnace to permitignition. After combustion has once started, the fuel valve may beadjusted to its former condition to permit the no fuel iiow to thefurnace. Because of small amount of oil necessary to support combustionafte it has once starts l, the justment of the'valve to its originalposh tion is a di'llicult matter.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of meansassociated with the fuel regulating val *e whereby the valve may beopened a )redetermined amount to permit the additional flow of fuelnecessary to enable combustion to be started and after which the valvemay be easily and accurately returned to its initial setting.

The means comprises a pivoted lever to which the fuel valve stem isconnected, which lever is movable between two adjustable stops, one'ofwhich corresponds to the normal setting of the valve and the other tothe starting position of the valve. A movement of the lever to aposition against one or the other of the stops accurately de tel-minesthe setting of the fuel valve.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of means whereby thesetting of the fuel valve is automatically adjusted by the operative orinoperative condition of the furnace, whereby, with the furnace inoperation the fuel valve will be set for the normal fuel flow and withthe furnace not in operation and the fire out, the valve will be set forthe starting fuel flow.

The means whereby this object of the invention is accomplished is in theprovision of a thermostat arranged in the path of the exhaust furnacegases to be heated by them, and having operative connection with thefuel valve. lVith the furnace in the inoperative condition with the lireout, the thermostat is contracted and thereby has moved the fuel valveto a position corresponding to the starting fuel flow, thereby admittingalarge volume of fuel to the fuel distributer to facilitate the ignitionof the fuel. After combustion has been started, the hot exhaust gasesoperate to expand the thermostat to adjust the fuel valve for the normalfuel flow.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view illustrating the application of theinvention to a ilfurnace of the particular type.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the switch through which the motor circuitis thermostatically controlled.

Fig. 3 is an. end view of the same.

Fig. 4c is a detail illustrating particularly the mechanical control ofthe motor circuit in the event of leakage of nnconsumed fuel.

r l as comprising a furnace 1, of any 'iate type, having arrangedtherein present description, may be briefly and laying a conical casing3, to receive a conical head l of the distributor, which head,immediately above the plane of the lnuner-plate 2, is formed with aseries of apertures or ducts 5, disposed in an annular row with a seriesof directing fingers 6, pro-- iecting beyond the mouths of the ducts.The

- l i, which is of hol ow type, is carried d communicates with thepipe-section hich is suitably supported at the lower l in well 8, towiich fuel, such as oil and the like, is delivered to a pipe 9, by apump 10, suitably supplied from any appropriate source. The connectionbetween pipe 7 and well 8 is such to insure against leakago, and thepump and also the distributer are operated from a motor 11, shown as anelectric motor. The connection between the power-shaft l2. operated bythe motor, and the pumping distributor may be of any desired type, solong the pump is operated to deliver the oil under pressure, and thedistributor rotated with sutlicient speed to distribute the oil throughthe ducts 5, with a centrifugal force over the face of the burner-plate2.

A device of this character requires the use of a pilot-light toinitially ignite fuel, and it is important that such pilot-light bearranged beyond the probability of becoming extinguished. Thepilot-light for use with the furnace of the type described isillustrated more particularly in Fig. 5, and comprises a tubular section13, fitted at the lower end, at 14, for connection with a supply-pipeand formed above the lower end with an annular enlargement 15, the loweredge of which is sharply inclined outwardly and inwardly to form abearing surface 16. The section 13 is formed at its upper end with adeflecting-plate 17. preferably slightly convex on the upper surfacewith the lower surface beyond the section, presenting a compound curve.as at 18, the terminal phase of the curve, next the free edge of thedeflector. being downwardly. The section 13 of the pilot-light is formedin a longitudinal bore 19 for the passage of the fuel. and in theannular enlargement 15 thereof there is formed a plurality of comparatively minute passages 20, communicating at their inner ends withthe bore 19, and inclining upwardly therefrom and opening through theupper surface of the enlarge ment immediately adjacent the body of thesection. T he upper terminals of the passages 20 form the ignitionpoints of the pilot-burner, and. will be clearfrom Fig. 5, such ignitionpoints arranged well beneath the deflector plate, and the line ofinclination of such passages being approximately on a linewith theextreme edge of the deflector plate.

To dispose the pilot-light beyond the reach of the fuel delivered fromthe distributer, and also to protect such light against possibility ofbeing reached by the fuel at the ignition point, and also to protect itagainst other causes tending to extinguish it, there is arranged in theburner plate 2, a well 21, preferably removable, having a pedestal 22rising interiorly thereof from the bottom, and formed at its upper endto provide a seat for the bearing surface 16 for the pilot-burner. Thepedestal has a. longitudinal opening to permit the passage of the bodyof the burner below the enlargement thereto. The pilot-burner is thuscentrally supported within the well, and the well is proportioned withmore or less re gard to the proportions of the burner for particularpurposes. For example, the di ameter ofthe well is slightly greater thanthe diameter of the deflector of the burner to thereby provide anannular passage 28 about the burner through which the flame passes toreach the oil on the burnerplate.

Furthermore, the relative depth of the well, as compared with the heightof the burner, is such that the upper portion of the deflector plate isapproximately in line with the top of the well, that is, with thesurface of the burner plate, so that the ignition points of thepilot-light are wholly below the burner plate, and protected againstdrowning from the fuel, as such fuel cannot directly reach the ignitionpoints of the pilot burner without filling the we l, and

this possibility is guarded against through the provision of outlets2st, formed in the bottom of the well, which outlets, in addition totaking care of the oil leakage, provide a suitable air supply to thepilot-light.

In the event of failure of the pilot-light, it is apparent that with thedistributor still operating, the fuel would accumulate and fiood'thefurnace. As stated, one of the ob jects of the invention is to providemeans whereby, in the event of failure of the pilot light, the fuelsupply will be practically cut oil. This control is obtained byutilizing the weight of the unconsumed oil for op erating a mechanicaltrip to open the switch for the motor-circuit. In the preferred. details here shown, such. mechanical control comprises an electric switchincluding spaced terminals 25, 26, included in and forming part of oneof the conductors 27, of the motor-circuit, and a cooperatingbridging-block 29, said block being carried upon one end-portion of anL-shaped lever 80, pivotally mounted upon an appropriate part, andconnected to a spring 31., tensioned to so move the lever as to withdrawthe block from the terminals. A second L- shaped lever 32 is pivotallysupported in appropriate relative position to the level 30, the end ofone arm of said lever 32 being formed to underlie the endof theappropriate arm of the lever 30, when said lever is in circuit-closingposition, and the relative arrangement and size of the respective leversis such that when the lever 32 is in normal position, that is, against astop 33, being there held by the counterweight 34, carried on theextension of the lever 32, the lever 30 will be held in switchclosingposition against the influence of the spring 31.

That end of the lever 32, remote from the lever 30, is provided with areceptacle 35, to which the fuel may be deliv r d from a pan 36,supported in the furnace casing below the well 21, and in position toreceive oil passing through the openings 2 The pan 36 is or may beremovably supported and is preferably formed with a downwardly-inclinedbottom 3. and for convenience has a pipe delivery 38 extending over thereceptacle It is apparent, that, in the event of failure of thepilotlight, or for any other cause, the distributor will. cause theaccumulation of oil or other liquid fuel in the pan 3?, through which itis delivered to the receptacle 65, and if, or when any predetermined.weight of such fuel, adjustably governed by the weight 31 of the lever32, accumulates in the receptacle 35, the lever 32 will be moved fromthe stop 33:, thereby releasing the switch-lever 30, and will permit thespring 31 to operate the lever 30 to open the switch, and stop the motor11. Consequently, the further delivery of oil is stopped, and waste,otherwise incident to the lack of said control, avoided.

In the mechanical control described, the additional pan 3G is ofimportance, and it is furthermore of importance that the receptacle becovered, except in so far as may be necessary to permit the deliverythereto of the oil. These described characteristics are essential to thepractical operation of the device, as naturally there would be anaccun'iulation of dirt, dust, and the like in the pan from the furnace,and if such pan were utilized as the overbalancing medium for the lever,it is apparent that the accumulation of such dirt, or other refuse,would tend to operate the pan and cut oil the supply of oil without thenecessity for such action. Therefore. the pair 36 is usually not movableas apart of the controlling-means and any accumulation. of dirt or otherrefuse thsicin will not affect the operation of the device, that is,-the oil delivered to the pan simply finding its way through such refuseand through the discharge opening into the receptacle. The receptacle isguarded 1st being operated by the weight of accumulated refuse bycovering such receptacle against the admittance of such refuse.

In addition to the mechanical control for the provision of waste of thefuel, the invention contemplates a thermostatic control to be governedby particular heat requirements. This control involves anappropriately-located motor-driven switch electrically controlled by athermostat. The motor-controlling switch involves a suitable trainindicated generally at 38, which is preferably spring-driven. One shaftof the train, as 39, provided with a switch-arm L0, carrying acont-actor 41 adapted in one position of the arm to bridge the spacedterminals e2, included in the motor-circuit, the particular arrangementof the contactor and terminals being of no particular importance,although it is preferred that the terminals he in the form of the spacedplates, divergent in opposition to the rotation of the arm l0, so thatthe contactor ll may readily pass between the contacts and effectivelybridge the same electrically closing the circuit.

Movement of the train is thermostatically controlled for which purposethe arbor shaft, as 39, hearing the arm 40, is provided with a controldisk 44, having diametrically opposed notches 45, to receive the nose L6of a pivota-lly-supported L-shaped lever $7. One arm of the lever formsthe armature 418 of an electro-magnet 49. The electro-magnet 4-9 isarranged in a circuit including a source of energy 50, having aconductor serially including a thermostatic element 51, theelectromagnet and the arbor shaft 39 of the train.

A thermostatic element cooperates with contacts 52, 53, here shown asscrews, threaded for adjustment in suitable supports, so that they maybe adjusted to vary the closing limit of the thermostatic ele ment, tothereby vary the degree 01" heat through which the device operates. Eachcontact is, of course, in an inoependent circuit, the conductor 54,-being common to both circuits. For example, the contact 52 is in circuitwith conductor 55, leading to contact 58, adjacent the train and contact53, has a conductor 57 leading to a similar con tact 56, diametricallyopposed with relation to the contact 58. On the arbor 39 is fixed an arm59, adapted to be moved in any particular switclroperating movement ofthe train, being so arranged that in one or the other locking positionof the train, that is, with the nose d6 of the lever T in a notch 45,the arm 59 will engage one of the contacts 56 or 58, and so complete oneof the local-circuits at this end. A lever 4:7 is influenced in thedirection from the else fro-magnet by a spring 60, and such lever isutilized as a means for providing a lock to stop the train inpredetermined positions, whereby entire dependence for such lock uponthe engagement oil the lever nose with the notches of the disk is notrelied upon.

The lock contemplated comprises a spring-plate 61, secured to thearmature and and having a free end, and an arm 62 arranged on anescapementor other appropriate gear of the train adapted to engage thefree end of said armature.

In the thermostatic control, the engagement of the thermostaticelementwith either contact 52 or 53, will, in the event the arm 50engages a corresponding terminal, energize the electro-magnct, attractthe armature, release the lock and free the nose 46 from the particularnotch in the disk. Under the influence of the spring-motor, the train,revolves a halt revolution, the immediate effect of the initial movementseparating the arm 59, from the particular contact, as 56, and breakingthe local-circuit. The main-motor-circuit is, in the instanceillustrated, immediately broken and the motor stops, cutting off fuelsupply to the furnace and thereby eventually lowering the heat indegree. The train continues movement until the lock 61, 62, is broughtinto effective use. In such locked position, the nose 16 of the lever isengaged in the diametrically-opposed notch, and the arm 59 engages theother contact, as 58. so that in the reverse movement of thethermostatic element, the reverse action occurs and the motor-circuit isagain closed and the motor started.

he means whereby the amount of oil fed 0 the fuel distributer may beincreased over the normal fuel flow to facilitate the initial ignitionof the fuel and subsequently accurately decreased to the normal fuelflow includes a valve 65 in the "fuel pipe 9 extending from. the pump 10to the fuel distriouter. The stem 66 of the valve is slida lv arrangedtherein and its upper end is pi oted to a lever 67 pivoted at 68 to asupport, not shown Said lever is movably arranged between two adjustablestops 69 and 79 which serve to limit the motion of the lever in eitherdirection, and by so restricting the movement of the lover, operate torestrict the movement of the valve stem between a maximum and inimumopening which can be varied by changing the adjustment of the stops.

it spring 71, attached to the end o't lever 67 tends to normallymaintain said lever against the lower stop 70 and maintains the fuelvalve 65 in adjustment for the normal and minimum fuel flow to thedistributer.

t is apparent that in starting the furnace, the lever 67 may he movedupward against the stop 69 to consequently open the fuel valve to permitthe starting fuel flow and once the combustion of the oil in the furnacehas begun, the lever may be bracket 76 secured to the flue.

moved against the lower stop 70 and thereby adjust the valve for theminimum and normal fuel flow. By the provision of the stops 69 and 70,the valve may be moved to the starting position and thereafter re turnedto the running position after each operation with ease and certainty.

The thermostatic control of the fuel valve, whereby said valve isautomatically opened to the starting fuel flow position when oil is notburning in the furnace, and closed to the normal fuel flow positionafter coinbustion has begun includes the rod 72 preferably of a hightemperature coefficient of expansion, placed in the path of the hotexhaust furnace gases, and as shown, is placed in the flue 73 connectingthe furnace with the chimney 74 and one end of the rod is fixed againstmovement in a bracket 75 secured to the chimney. The other end of therod projects through the flue and is slidably arranged in and supportedby the The pro truding end of the expansible rod has adjustably arrangedthereon a member 7'? formed with two extensions 78 in one of which ascrew 7 9 is movably arranged. One arm 80 of a bell crank lever isdisposed be tween an extension 78 and the screw 79 and the movement ofthe rod 72 by expansion or contraction thereby causes a consequentmovement of said arm. The other arm 81 of the bell crank lever isconnected by a rod 82 to the end of the lever 67 governing the fuelvalve; whereby a movement of the expansible rod 72 caused by a variationof temperature of the flue gases may cause a corresponding adjustment ofthe fuel valve.

The bell crank lever is pivoted at 83 to a support 84: securelymaintained against movement in order that the total expansion of the rod72 may be utilized.

When no oil is burning in the furnace and the temperature of the gas inthe flue is relatively cold, the rod '72 is at a minimum length and willhave moved the bell crank lever to raise lever 67 against the action ofthe spring 71 to a position against the upper stop 67 thereby adjustingthe fuel valve 65 for the starting fuel flow. When combustion has oncestarted in the furnace and the flue gases have become relatively hot,the rod 72 expands and consequently operates to move lever 67 to aposition against the lower stop 7 0 to thereby adjust the fuel valve forthe normal fuel flow, in which position it is maintained during theoperation of the furnace.

any expansion or contraction of the expansible rod 72 beyond thatequivalent to a movement of the lever 67 between the adjustable stops 69and 7 0 is compensated for in the elasticity of the connections betweenthe rod and the lever 67.

T claim 1. in oil-burning furnace having a fuel feeding-device operatedby an electric-motor, a pilot-light for the fuel,a thermostatic controlfor opening the circuit of the motor at a predetermined maximum heatdegree from the burning fuel and closing the circuit at a predeterminedminimum heat degree, and means operated by a predetermined weight ofunconsumed fuel delivered from the furnace beyond the feedingdevice toopen the motor-circuit independently of the thermostatic control,whereby to stop the motor when started by the thermostatic control onfailure of the pilot-light. a

2. The combination of an oil burner, means for feeding oil to saidburner including a fuel pipe, a fuel regulating valve in said pipemovable to a position corresponding to a starting fuel flow and to arunning fuel flow, and thermostatic means governing said valve arrangedto adjust said valve into a position corresponding to the starting fuelflow when the oil fed to the furnace is not burning, and to move saidvalve to position corresponding to the running fuel flow subsequent theignition of the oil in the furnace.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STERLING ELLIOT lVitnesses T. T. GREENWOOD, H. B. DAVIS.

